Female part of an animal-identification device comprising an element for locking the male part inside the female part

ABSTRACT

A female part of an animal-identifying device, which includes a cavity intended to receive a head of a male part of the animal-identifying device. The cavity includes a blocking element provided within the cavity to hold the head inside the cavity. The blocking element includes a base and at least two resilient claws extending from the base towards an entrance of the cavity. The claws are movable between several positions, including: a resting position before insertion of the head into the cavity, in which the claws are relaxed; an insertion position, in which the claws are stressed into opening; and a blocking position after insertion of the head into the cavity, enabling blocking of the head inside the cavity.

1. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/320,336, filed Jan. 24, 2019, which is a Section 371 National StageApplication of International Application No. PCT/EP2017/067391, filedJul. 11, 2017, and published as WO 2018/019571 A1 on Feb. 1, 2018, notin English, which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

2. Field of the invention

The field of the invention is that of the tagging of animals by means ofan animal-identifying device intended to be affixed to an animal.

More specifically, the invention relates to the female part of such ananimal-identifying device and more specifically to a blocking elementprovided in the female part, enabling the male part to be blocked in thefemale part.

3. PRIOR ART

The classic method used to improve the tracking of livestock and/or toguarantee the origin of animals is to tag the animals by affixing ananimal-identifying device, for example into an animal's ear.

Such animal-identifying devices, in their classic form, comprise a malepart, formed by a rod extending from a support and terminating in a headthat is generally pointed and a female part comprising a cavity forreceiving the head of the male part.

Such devices need to be unbreachable in order to ensure the traceabilityof the animal, i.e. it should not be possible to remove anidentification device placed on a first animal and then reposition it ona second animal.

To this end, there is especially a known way of using retaining elementsenabling the head of a male part to be retained within the receivingcavity of a female part once the head of the male part has been insertedinto the female part.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, such retaining elements take forexample the form of a ring having several slots 12 that delimit toes 13.Such a ring is intended for being positioned at the entrance to thefemale part. Thus, when the head 14 of the male part penetrates thefemale part, in the direction of the arrow F, the toes 13, pushed by themale part 14, move apart slightly and then return into their positionwhen the male part has crossed the ring 11, to block the male head 14within the receiving cavity 15 of the female part.

For example, the inner diameter d1 of the ring passes from 5 mm to 6 mmwhen the male head 14 pushes the toes 13 and then returns to 5 mm whenthe male head 14 is inserted into the reception cavity 15 of the femalepart.

Such toes 13 can be inclined relative to the periphery of the ring,their unattached extremity being pointed towards the back of thereceiving cavity (i.e. inclined in a direction opposite the entrance ofthe receiving cavity) so as to facilitate the passage of the male headfrom the entrance hole to the back of the receiving cavity.

Such a ring therefore enables the passage of the male part so that itgets into the cavity of the female part but prevents its withdrawal andtherefore prevents the opening of the male and female parts.

One drawback of such a ring is that it requires the exertion of greatforce in order to make the male head penetrate the female part. Indeed,the toes 13 must be forcefully folded so that the inner diameter d1 ofthe ring passes from 5 mm to 6 mm for example. Now the bending of thesetoes 13, especially when the ring is made of metal, is relativelylimited, thus inducing the use of substantial force.

In addition, the use of such a ring calls for a great depth P of thecavity. Indeed, the depth of the cavity must be planned to allow thebending of the toes 13 towards the back of the cavity so that the malehead can penetrate the cavity 15. Now once the male head is insertedinto the receiving cavity and once the toes 13 have resumed theirinitial position, the male head is not blocked between the unattachedextremity of the toes and the back of the cavity. There is therefore aclearance or play at the level of the male head and a risk thatbranchings, electrical wires or the like will get inserted between thesupport of the male part and the female part.

There is therefore a need for a novel identification device that isunbreachable and does not have all the drawbacks of the prior art.

4. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention proposes a novel solution in the form of a female part ofan animal-identifying device, comprising a cavity intended to receive ahead of a male part of the animal-identifying device.

According to the invention, such a cavity comprises a blocking elementthat is intended to hold the head of the male part inside the cavity ofthe female part, said blocking element comprising a base and at leasttwo resilient claws extending from the base towards the entrance of saidcavity, the claws being movable between at least two positions, oneinsertion position enabling the insertion of the male head into thecavity and one blocking position enabling the blocking of the male headinside said cavity.

Thus, the invention proposes a novel and inventive female part relyingon the presence of a spring-forming blocking element within thereception cavity, enabling the passage of the male head so that it isinserted into the cavity of the female part but preventing itswithdrawal.

In particular, the proposed solution offers a solution to improving theunbreachable nature of animal-identifying devices without reducing easeof affixing or increasing manufacturing costs.

More specifically, the presence of resilient claws extending from thebase of the blocking element towards the entrance of the cavity reducesthe positioning force needed to make the male part penetrate the femalepart. Indeed, a slight bending of the resilient claws is sufficient tomake the aperture of the reception cavity become bigger in order toenable the passage of the male head. It may be recalled that, accordingto the prior art, the toes extend towards the back of the receivingcavity, thus calling for the exertion of substantial force in order tomake the male head penetrate the female part.

In addition, the presence of resilient claws extending from the base ofthe blocking element towards the entrance of the cavity makes itpossible to preserve a shallow cavity. Indeed, since a slight bending ofthe resilient claws is sufficient for the male head to be able topenetrate the cavity, it is not necessary to increase the depth of thecavity. Hence, the clearance or play at the level of the male head inthe cavity of the female part can be greatly reduced, thus improving theresistance of the animal-identifying device over time.

In particular, the blocking element according to the invention has aheight that is appreciably equal to the height of the cavity. Theresilient claws therefore have a length greater than those of theprior-art claws. As compared with the toes used in the prior art, theuse of longer claws reduces the folding angle needed to obtain a sameaperture.

The base and/or the claws of the blocking element can be made out ofmetal, for example steel, out of plastic, for example nylon, or out ofresin or a composite material possibly a fiberglass-enriched material,etc.

Such elements are therefore particularly resistant to externalaggression and thus improve the unbreachable nature of theanimal-identifying device. In particular, such elements are resistant tohigh temperatures and especially to buckling, scalding, etc. They cantherefore be removed from an animal after it has been slaughtered.

In particular, the blocking element defines a housing suited toreceiving the head of the male part, the base of the blocking elementbeing intended to receive the pointed extremity of said head.

Thus, the blocking element will take the shape of a disk against whichthe extremity (the point) of the male head can take support and theclaws of which have a flared shape extending from the base towards theentrance of the cavity.

As a variant, the base of the blocking element is cylindrical, orpartially spherical, and the claws are truncatedly conical, the axisgenerated by revolution of the blocking element coinciding with ajoining axis between the female part and the male part (i.e. itcoincides with the axis of the cavity).

In particular, if the base of the blocking element is a spherical cap(male sphere) having a shape complementary with the back of the cavityof the female part (female sphere), a ball-and-socket connection isobtained between the blocking element and the female part.

After the animal-identifying device is positioned, i.e. when the malepart is blocked in the blocking element, the ball-and-socket connectionoffers three degrees of freedom in rotation between the male part andthe female part, thus reducing the risk of breakage of theanimal-identification part and/or the tearing of the animal's ear.

According to these different configurations, the base is situated at theback of the cavity in the blocking position (but not necessarily indirect contact with the back of the cavity).

According to one particular embodiment, the base of the blocking elementhas a back wall. Thus, when the male head is inserted into the cavity ofthe female part, the extremity (pointed tip) of the male head abuts theback wall of the base of the blocking element and the male part isblocked between the claws and the back of the base of the blockingelement. The risk that external elements (branchings, electrical wires,etc.) may get inserted between the male and female parts is thusreduced.

In particular, such a back wall, which may be designed with a hardmaterial (metal, nylon, rigid plastic, composite material, etc.)improves the unbreachable nature of the animal-identifying device increating a shielding that makes it difficult to carry out any intrusionby drilling, bending, etc.

According to one particular embodiment, said claws are distributeduniformly around the base of the blocking element.

Thus it is ensured that the male part will be held more efficiently inthe female part and that the animal-identifying device will have alonger service life.

For example, the blocking element comprises ten claws.

According to one particular embodiment, the claws are stressed intoopening in the insertion position.

It is therefore not necessary to exert additional force to move theclaws apart during the insertion of the male head into the female part,thus facilitating the positioning of the animal-identifying device (andreducing the force needed to place the device as compared with theprior-art techniques). It may be recalled that the prior-art system, onthe contrary, makes it necessary to deform a retaining element, such asthe toes of a ring, to make the male head penetrate the female part,thus giving rise to a positioning stress.

According to a first example, in the insertion position, the unattachedextremity of the claws is held in a groove of the female part. Such agroove is located at the entrance to the cavity, the resilient clawsextending from the base of the blocking element towards the entrance ofthe cavity.

According to a second example, the female part comprises a cover forreceiving the male head, defining the cavity, and a crown-shaped lidfixedly attached to the receiving cover, defining the entrance to thecavity, and the unattached extremity of the claws is held in a recess ofthe lid in the insertion position.

According to a third example, the unattached extremity of the claws isheld by a safety ring provided at the entrance of the cavity.

According to one particular embodiment, the base of the blocking elementis not in contact with the back of the cavity in the insertion position,and the base of the blocking element is in contact with the back of thecavity in the blocking position.

Thus, the insertion of the male head into the female part causes theblocking element to slide inside the reception cavity of the female partalong the joining axis between the male and female parts (i.e. the axisof the cavity). Such a sliding movement releases the unattachedextremity of the claws, which were stressed into opening in theinsertion position. The passage from the insertion position to theblocking position is therefore prompted by the insertion of the malehead into the cavity of the female part.

According to one particular characteristic of the invention, the femalepart also comprises locking means that lock the blocking element in theblocking position.

Such locking means prevent the opening of the blocking element (i.e. theflexible claws) in the blocking position.

In particular, the perimeter defined by the unattached extremity of theclaws in the blocking position is appreciably equal to the perimeter ofa section of the male part.

The blocking is therefore done on the totality or near totality of thecircumference of the rod of the male part, for example with theunattached extremity of the claws of the blocking element coming intocontact with the totality or near totality of the circumference of therod whereas, according to the prior art, the slots between the toesdictated the presence of a space between each toe and the next one.

With a female part according to the invention, the pressure of contacton the male head is therefore lower than it was with the prior-arttechniques since the contact surface between the blocking element andthe male part is greater. The risk of tearing is therefore smaller.Thus, the animal-identifying device is provided with greater lastingcapacity over time.

5. LIST OF FIGURES

Other features and advantages of the invention shall appear more clearlyfrom the following description of a particular embodiment given by wayof a simple, illustratory and non-exhaustive example and from theappended drawings of which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an example of a ring used to hold a male partin a female part according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 illustrates a blocking element according to one embodiment of theinvention;

FIGS. 3A to 3C illustrate a first embodiment of the invention accordingto which the blocking element is not pre-stressed into opening;

FIGS. 4A and 4B, 6A and 6B illustrate two variants of a secondembodiment of the invention according to which the blocking element ispre-stressed into opening;

FIGS. 5A and 5B propose an example of the locking of the blockingelement in the blocked position.

6. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 6.1 General Principle

The general principle of the invention relies on the use of a blockingelement provided within the receiving cavity of a female part, enablingthe passage of a head of a male part so that it is inserted into thecavity of the female part, but preventing its withdrawal.

Such a blocking element is illustrated in FIG. 2. It comprises a base 21and at least two resilient claws 22 extending from the base 21 towardsthe entrance of the cavity of the female part. The elasticity orresilience of the claws can be obtained by using a material such asmetal, nylon, a fiberglass-enriched composite material, etc.

The base 21 can have a two-dimensional circular shape, such as the shapeof a ring, a disc, or a three-dimensional shape such as the shape of acylinder and/or a half-sphere or a sphere segment (in particular aspherical cap), so that it can cooperate with the back of the cavity ofthe female parts classically used in the field of animal identification.It can especially have a back wall 211 which can be plane or rounded.For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the base is formed by a hollow cylinderhaving a rounded back wall taking the form of a spherical cap.

The claws 22 extend from the disc or the ring forming the base 21 orfrom the extremity (base) of the cylinder or from the sphere segment,opposite the back of the cavity, towards the entrance hole of thecavity. It has a flared shape (i.e. the diameter defined by theunattached extremity of the claws is greater than the diameter definedat the base of the claws) and it is truncatedly conical so as to definea housing adapted to receiving the head of the male part. The claws areadvantageously distributed uniformly around the base.

Each claw is formed by a spring leaf which can be folded back as a hookto maintain the male head in a blocked position. For example, each claw22 has at least two portions, including one straight portion 221defining the flared shape and a curved portion 222 defining the hook.For example, the straight portion has a length of the order of 7 mm to10 mm and the curved portion has a length of the order of 1 mm to 3 mm.

These claws are movable between two positions, a position of insertionenabling the insertion of the head into the cavity (in the direction ofthe arrow F) and a blocking position enabling the blocking of the headwithin the cavity. In the insertion position, the claws are slightlyspaced apart to let through the male head. In the blocking position, theclaws block the male part in position within the female cavity.

According to one particular embodiment, the number and/or dimension ofthe claws are chosen so that, in the blocked position, the perimeterdefined by the unattached extremity of the claws is appreciably equal tothe perimeter of a section of the male part, for example to theperimeter of a section of the rod of the male part. In other words, theinner diameter defined by the unattached extremity of the claws isappreciably equal to the diameter of the rod at the junction between therod and the male head.

Here below, we describe different examples of implementation of theinvention.

Classically, an animal-identifying device is deemed to comprise a malepart, formed by a rod extending from a support and terminating in ahead, and a female part comprising a cavity for receiving the head ofthe male part. At its base, the male part has a diameter greater thanthat of the rod. The junction between the rod and the male headtherefore defines a first shoulder. If necessary, a second shoulder canbe defined on the rod.

Such an animal-identifying device can especially be formed by two partscomprising a male part and a female part that are separate or a singlepart, the male part and the female part being then linked by a flexiblelink.

6.2 First Embodiment

Referring to FIGS. 3A to 3C, we describe a first embodiment of theinvention according to which claws of the blocking element are “relaxed”before the male part is inserted into the female part.

Before the male head is inserted into the female part, the blockingelement 20 is in a resting position as illustrated in FIG. 3A. Forexample, the base of the blocking element 20 is in contact with the backof the cavity 30 and no stress is applied to the claws of the blockingelement 20 which are therefore “relaxed”.

When the male part is inserted into the female part, the pointed shapeof the male head 31 enables the claws of the blocking element 20 to begradually moved apart up to the maximum diameter of the male head asillustrated in FIG. 3B. A stress is therefore exerted by the male part31 on the claws of the blocking element 20. This position corresponds toa position of insertion, enabling the head to be inserted into thecavity.

As illustrated in FIG. 3C, once the male head is inserted into thecavity 30, i.e. once the first shoulder 311 of the male head has passedthrough the unattached extremity of the claws, the stress exerted by themale head on the claws of the blocking element 20 is relaxed and theclaws resume their original position. In this position, the claws of theblocking element grip the male part at the base of the first shoulder311. This position corresponds to a blocking position enabling the malehead to be blocked inside the cavity.

If necessary, locking means, such as a locking ring, can be used to lockthe blocking element into the blocked position preventing especially theopening/spreading apart of the claws after insertion of the male headinto the female part.

6.3 Second Embodiment

Referring henceforth to FIGS. 4A to 6B, we present a second embodimentof the invention according to which the claws of the blocking elementare stressed into opening before the male part is inserted into thefemale part.

According to the first example illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, it isconsidered for example that the female part comprises a cover 41 forreceiving the head of the male part, defining the cavity, a crown-shapedlid 42 fixedly attached to the receiving cover, defining the entrance tothe cavity, and the element 20 for blocking the male head in the femalepart. The lid 42 can if necessary be closed by a tearable shutterensuring first-time use of the female part and preventing theintroduction of fouling material within the cavity. Such a shutter canbe torn by the male head during the insertion of the male head into thefemale part.

Before the male head 31 is inserted into the female part, the blockingelement 20 is stressed into opening, as illustrated in FIG. 4A. To thisend, the unattached extremity of each claw of the blocking element 20 isplaced in a housing of the female part so as to force the opening of theclaws. For example, such a housing is a groove formed in the female partat the entrance hole of the cavity. Such a housing can also be a recessformed in the lid 42. This position corresponds to a position ofinsertion enabling the insertion of the head into the cavity.

In this insertion position, the base of the blocking element 20 is notin contact with the back of the cavity.

The male head 31 can easily penetrate the receiving cavity of the femalepart, since the claws of the blocking element are stressed into openingand therefore do not hamper the introduction of the male head. Thelaying or positioning force is therefore reduced. When the pointedextremity of the male head abuts the back wall 211 on the blockingelement 20, the male head pushes the back wall 211 towards the back ofthe cavity of the female part. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, thetranslation of the blocking element 20 towards the back of the cavityreleases the claws from their housing as soon as the movement issufficient (for example when the back wall 211 of the blocking element20 comes into contact with the back of the cavity, or before thishappens). The stress exerted on the claws of the blocking element 20 istherefore relaxed and the claws can close. In this position, the clawsof the blocking element grip the male part at the base of the firstshoulder 311. This position corresponds to a blocking position, enablingthe blocking of the male head within the cavity.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, locking means 51 can be used to lockthe blocking element in the blocking position. For example, such lockingmeans comprise a locking ring or locking balls.

In the insertion position, these locking means 51 are held by the clawsof the blocking element 20 in the housing of the female part (forexample a housing provided in the lid 52). In the blocking position,these locking means 51 are released.

According to the example illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, in theinsertion position, the claws of the blocking element compress the ring(or the balls) and a locking spring 511 against a wall of a housingprovided for this purpose on the female part. As described here abovewith reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the base of the locking element 20 isnot in contact with the back of the cavity in this insertion position.

When the male head pushes the back wall 211 of the blocking element 20towards the back of the cavity of the female part, the stress exerted onthe claws of the blocking element 20 is relaxed and, as a result, thestress exerted on the ring (or the balls) and the locking spring 511 isrelaxed. The locking spring 511, which is released, propels the lockingring (or the balls) out of its housing (or their housings) towards theback of the cavity up to a stop position in which the ring (or theballs) come into contact with the internal wall of the cavity and theclaws. In this position, the ring locks the blocking element 20 inpreventing the opening/spreading of the claws, since the ring rests, onthe one hand, on the inner wall of the cavity and, on the other hand, onthe claws.

According to the second example illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, it isconsidered for example that the female part comprises a cover 61 forreceiving the head of the male part, defining the cavity, a crown-shapedlid 62 fixedly attached to the receiving cover, the element 20 forblocking the male head in the female part and a safety ring 63 enablingthe claws of the blocking element to be stressed into opening.

For example, such a safety ring 63 is fixedly attached to the lid 62within the cavity, in a reversible way. The lid 62 and the safety ringdefine the entrance of the cavity. The safety ring 63 or the lid 62 canif necessary be closed by a tearable shutter 65 ensuring the first-timeuse of the female part and preventing the introduction of fouling matterinside the cavity. Such a shutter can be torn by the male head duringthe insertion of the male head into the female part.

Such a safety ring 63 has, on its external wall, a housing 631 such as arecess enabling the claws of the blocking element to be held in an openposition in the insertion position. Such a safety ring 63 also has, onits inner wall, a support surface 632 against which the male head canlean to detach the safety ring from the lid 62.

Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, before the male head is inserted intothe female part, the blocking element 20 is stressed into opening. Thisposition corresponds to a position of insertion enabling the head to beinserted into the cavity.

When the male head penetrates the cavity, as illustrated in FIG. 6B,this head pushes the safety ring 63 towards the back of the cavity ofthe female part. The translation of the safety ring 63 towards the backof the cavity releases the claws from their housing. The stress exertedon the claws of the blocking element 20 is therefore relaxed and theclaws can close. In this position, the claws of the blocking elementgrip the rod of the male part at the base of a shoulder formed at thejunction of the rod and the male head. This position corresponds to ablocking position, enabling the male head to be blocked inside thecavity.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, locking means 64 can also be used tolock the blocking element in the blocked position according to thissecond example. For example, such locking means take the form of amovable part such as a button or non-return lip valve.

In the position of insertion, the safety ring 63 and/or the open clawsof the blocking element rest on the lips 64 (or the button) to keep themdepressed in a housing of the lid 62.

When the male head pushes the safety ring 63 towards the back of thecavity of the female part, the stress exerted on the claws of theblocking element 20 is relaxed and, thereafter, the lips 64 (or thebutton) are relaxed.

The lips 64 are therefore no longer depressed in a housing of the lid 62but protruding. In this position, the protruding lips 64 lock thelocking element 20 in preventing the opening/spreading of the claws.

6.4 Variants

Here above, we have presented different examples of embodiments of theinvention according to which the female part has a truncatedly conicalshape. Naturally, other shapes can be envisaged, such as for example acylindrical shape or the like. In the same way, the shape of thereceiving cavity can be different, and for example cylindrical.

Besides, the male part can also have different shapes, such as thoseillustrated in FIG. 4A or FIG. 6A. The shape of the female partaccording to the invention must be adapted to cooperate with the shapechosen for the male part.

1. A female part of an animal-identifying device, comprising: a cavityto receive a head of a male part of said animal-identifying device, saidcavity comprises a blocking element provided within said cavity, to holdsaid head inside said cavity, said blocking element comprising a baseand at least two resilient claws extending from said base towards anentrance of said cavity, said claws being movable between severalpositions, comprising: a resting position before insertion of the headinto the cavity, in which the claws are relaxed, an insertion position,in which the claws are stressed into opening, and a blocking positionafter insertion of the head into the cavity, enabling blocking of saidhead inside said cavity.
 2. The female part according to claim 1,wherein at least one of said base or said claws of said blocking elementare made out of metal.
 3. The female part according to claim 1, whereinsaid blocking element defines a housing adapted to receive the head ofsaid male part, said base being configured to receive a pointedextremity of said head.
 4. The female part according to claim 1, whereinthe base of said blocking element is cylindrical, or partiallyspherical, and wherein the claws of said blocking element aretruncatedly conical having a longitudinal axis generated by revolutionof said blocking element about a joining axis at which said female partconfigured to join with said male part.
 5. The female part according toclaim 1, wherein the base of said blocking element has a back wall. 6.The female part according to claim 1, wherein said claws are distributeduniformly around said base.
 7. The female part according to claim 1,further comprising a lock that locks the blocking element in theblocking position.
 8. The female part according to claim 1, wherein thebase of the blocking element is a spherical cap having a shapecomplementary with a back of said cavity.
 9. The female part accordingto claim 1, wherein the base of the blocking element is in contact withthe back of the cavity in the insertion position.
 10. The female partaccording to claim 1, wherein the blocking element is not forced intocontact with the back of the cavity in the resting position.
 11. Thefemale part according to claim 1, wherein the blocking element is freeto contact the back of the cavity in the resting position.
 12. Thefemale part according to claim 7, wherein the lock prevents the claws ofthe blocking element from being stressed into opening in the blockingposition.
 13. An animal-identifying device comprising: a male parthaving a head and a section with a perimeter; and a female partcomprising: a cavity to receive the head of the male part, said cavitycomprises a blocking element provided within said cavity, to hold saidhead inside said cavity, said blocking element comprising a base and atleast two resilient claws extending from said base towards an entranceof said cavity, said claws being movable between several positions,comprising: a resting position before insertion of the head into thecavity, in which the claws are relaxed, an insertion position, in whichthe claws are stressed into opening, and a blocking position afterinsertion of the head into the cavity, enabling blocking of said headinside said cavity.
 14. The animal-identifying device according to claim13, wherein a perimeter defined by a distal end of the claws in theblocking position is appreciably equal to the perimeter of the sectionof said male part.
 15. The animal-identifying device according to claim13, further comprising a lock that prevents the claws of the blockingelement from being stressed into opening in the blocking position.